Brooder.



A. B. BECKER.

BRO

ODER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1910.

Patented NOV. 5,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

AW MW at m A. B. BECKER.

BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1910.

1,043,66 1 Patented Nov. 5 1912.

'2SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANJcRAFN COUWASHINGTONI D. c.

UNITED sTArns P A 1?ENT OFFICE.

AUGUST B. BECKER, or FRELSBURG, TEXAS.

BROODER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Application filed August 5, 1910. Serial No. 575,689.

chicks fro-1n crowding and which will ad justably determine the number of chicks which may be accommodated in a brooder.

Frequently when sudden storms occur a number of chicks will crowd into a single brooder and cause unhealthy conditions or the death of some of the chicks. If the leader starts into one brooder all of the other chicks will endeavor to follow and only when they find out that it is impossible to get into this particular brooder will they start for another. It is the object of this invention to avoidv the above mentioned difiiculties and to automatically out off the entrance of the chicks to a brooder after a predetermined number have entered, thus preventing the crowding and unhealthy conditions.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of brooders connected together. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a single section of the brooder with the top removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view.

As each section of the series brooder shown in Fig. 1 is similar, I shall only describe one section herein. The side members 1 are connected together by the rear top piece 2 and the hanging stile 3 for the rear door 1. The top 2 has connected to it the front top 5 which may be turned back so as to inspect the interior of the compartment. The front portion of the sides is connected together by a front piece 6 which is provided with an entrance opening 7 and immediately behind the front piece 6 is secured guiding strips 8 in which slides the closing door 9.

The bottom of the sides is connected together by the bottom pieces 10 and hinged to the front bottom piece is a tray 11 which I has its rear end. supported in elevated position by means of a yoke-shaped link 12 connected to the tray and to the forward portion o-fa lever 14 which is j ournaled in the side members and is provided on its rear end with a plurality of apertures 15 adapted to receive a balance weight 16. The forward end of the lever 14- has the door 9 flexibly connected thereto so as to freely operate in the guides 8.

The lever is. centrally held between the side members by spacing sleeves 17 which surround the pivotal shaft 18. This pivotal shaft may extend entirely through all of the compartments in the series and is preferably provided with a head 19 on one end to limit its inward movement. A suitable retaining member or housing 20 is pivoted to the side and is adapted to lie over the head to preventremoval of the shaft.

Under normal conditions the weight 16 overbalances the weight of the rear end of the tray 11 and the door 9 and holds both in raised position. WVhen a predetermined number of chicks of a given age enter the brooder they will crowd toward the back and thus lower the tray on to the bottom piece 10. This will depress the forward end of the lever 14: and thus close the opening 7 After the storm is over or in the morning the chicks will start toward the front of the brooder and thus relieve the weight upon the rear portion of the tray, The weight 16 will then raise the lever and open the door permitting the chicks to escape. The adjustable feed of the weight 16, it will be noticed, will permit the action of the device to be adjusted forchicks of all sizes. For instance, when in a given hole 15, thirtytwo chicks weighing an ounce apiece may enter, or eight chicks weighing a quarter of a pound apiece may enter. In another hole sixteen chicks each weighing one-quarter of a pound may enter, or four chicks may enter weighing one pound a piece.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is-

In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having an entrance opening therein, a pivoting shaft journaled sides of the lever to prevent lateral movein the casing and having a head to limit its ment thereof.

inward movement, a housing pivoted upon In testimony whereof I afiix my signature the casing and adapted to cover the head to in presence of two Witnesses.

prevent removal of the shaft, means to con- AUGUST B. BECKER. trol the position of the door including a lever cent-rally pivoted on the shaft, and sleeves arranged on the shaft on opposite Vitnesses EDWIN KOLLMANN, BERNHARD A. FRELs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

